Consistency key as Jay places fourth

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GENEVA — The conference meet is in one week. Sectional is about three weeks away.

Approaching the final stretch of the season, Patriot coach Ryan Steinbrunner is pleased with the way his young team is performing.

Jay County High School's boys golf team shot consistent with the way it has all season in finishing fourth Saturday in the South Adams Invitational at Wabash Valley Golf Club.

“I was pretty happy with the way the boys played today,” Steinbrunner said. “Weather turned out nice compared to what I thought it would be so it was just nice to get out here and play some golf.”

Led by match medalist Jake Shue, who shot 2-over-par 74, the Northeastern Titans won the team championship with a score of 337. Adams Central was the runner-up with 367, and Southern Wells finished with 374 for third.

Jay County totaled 414, and the host Starfires were last out of five teams with 448.

Griffin Mann, a Jay County sophomore, fought through a broken right pinky finger he suffered while playing basketball Wednesday.

Because of the injury, the lefty had to change his grip on the club, both a blessing and a curse.

“I had to slow down my swing and change my grip,” he said. “Changing my grip helped prevent my finger from being in too much pain. The negative of it, though, as that I had less control on my swing, especially when hitting my woods and longer irons.”

Mann made par three times on the front nine and managed to still shoot 90 for eighth overall after he lost a tiebreaker.

“Griffin fighting through a broken pinky, came out here and wasn't sure if he was going to play today or not,” Steinbrunner said.

Mann is scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday, and said he's disappointed because of the uncertainty as to whether or not he'll be able to golf again this season.

“He came out and shot the lowest score for our team,” Steinbrunner continued. “I can't be more thrilled than that, for sure.”

Devin Harris was second for the Patriots with 101, and Kyle Sanders shot 108 for third on the team. Joey Hall, who birdied the par-4 15th hole, carded a 115 to complete Jay County's team score.

The most difficult part for the Patriots, Steinbrunner said, was judging the break and speed of the greens.

“The putting was killer for us today,” he said. “They just could not figure out these greens. Other than Players Club (in Yorktown) these are the fastest greens we've played this year. They are rolling twice as fast as Portland (Golf Club's) greens. We're just not used to that.

“Short game killed us today.”

Spencer Fear and Landon Lenwell both shot 107 to pace the Starfires. Like Hall, Fear also birdied the 15th hole. He also made par twice. Lenwell shot even on four holes.

Brendan Campbell (123) and Alec Neuenschwander (137) completed South Adams' team score.

The Allen County Athletic Conference tournament is slated for May 18 at Celina Lynx, and four of the seven ACAC squads competed Saturday. With a match both today and Tuesday and a practice round at Celina Lynx on Thursday, Steinbrunner is hoping his team can make the most out of every time on a course.

“Every time we can get out and play is good experience to keep practicing so we're ready for next weekend,” he said. “Everything is a learning experience … Every time you're golfing it's practice.”